Possible reactions of infertile couples

There are several possible reactions that infertile couples may experience
while undergoing investigations. It is important to realize that couples
are different, and will react in different ways.

Affects
relationship with other family members

Infertility
can affect a couples relationship with other family members who have
become pregnant when they themselves have failed. A reminder of their
own problem.

Anger

A
frequent target is the doctor or specialist, sometimes patients can
become abusive or critical to their doctors’ competence. Reassurance
usually fuels their anger. It is important to note that these reactions
are normal, acceptable and should be received with empathy.

Guilt

An infertile partner may feel guilty of letting the
other partner down. Some couples express feeling of guilt for wanting
a child after having their first one as a result of in-vitro
fertilization (IVF), because they do not want to deprive the existing
child from a brother or a sister, they repeatedly try attempts at IVF
without success.

Couples
who have had a termination of their first pregnancy and can not conceive
a second time may have particular difficulty coping with their feeling
of guilt. They may feel that they are being punished for rejecting their
first baby. Similarly, some individuals may feel that they are being
punished for past sexual activities.

Depression

As
the sense of failure intensifies, the infertile couple will become more
isolated from social activities and friends. Women are particularly
vulnerable; the danger is that they become more isolated, losing contacts
with reality and suffers from low level of chronic depression with acute
episodes. These are often triggered by events, which will be reminder
of their problem such as birth of someone else’s baby, the announcement
of a pregnancy, children’s birthday parties etc. Those who have past
history of emotional difficulty are the most vulnerable.

Sexual
problems

This
is a very important problem and too often over looked. It is very difficult
for the couples to admit that their sexual life is suffering, if not
ceased altogether except in the mid-cycle. The command to have sexual
intercourse on demand may affect both partners. Sexual activities may
become baby making rather than a natural expression of love. This stress
may leads to impotence and vaginismus.